Murthy Immigration Podcast

The fiscal year 2019 H1B cap season is discussed by Murthy Law Firm attorneys in this teleconference. Included topics are issues related to transitioning from F-1 to H1B, USCIS quota and fee requirements, Level 1 Wage and Specialty Occupation, and matters important to IT companies with workers at third-party sites.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the fate of the program that allows certain H-4 spouses to apply for employment authorization documents (EADs). This special teleconference held on January 9, 2018 for members of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), is now being made available for all stakeholders who rely on MurthyDotCom to stay informed about the U.S. immigration system.

I-9 issues are the center of discussion in this teleconference from the Murthy Law Firm. Included topics relate to employer compliance with requirements for completing and maintaining the I-9 form. Specifically addressed are matters surrounding H1B and other nonimmigrant workers, and the most recent version of the I-9.

U.S. companies with the need for foreign national workers are typically familiar with the H1B and L-1 visa categories. But there is an entire ‘alphabet soup’ of work visa options that may meet an employer’s needs in certain circumstances. In this teleconference, Murthy Law Firm attorneys cover a number of different categories, including E-1, E-2, J, O, P, R, and TN.

Included topics are matters related to remaining compliant with the various laws and regulations regarding payment of wages that come into play when your company employs H1B workers, as Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss DOL wage and hour issues in this teleconference for employers and their representatives.

One of the first steps in the PERM green card process - the prevailing wage determination - is the focus of our October 2017 teleconference in this series designed for employers and their representatives. In the PERM green card process, employers are required to commit to a salary that either meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the sponsored position as determined by the Department of Labor. Attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm discuss fundamentals of the prevailing wage request and current adjudication trends, and provide guidance on how to overcome issues when seeking a prevailing wage determination for the green card process.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the L1A Executive or Manager and L1B Specialized Knowledge categories in this teleconference. Included topics are the types of employees who may qualify for one of the L-1 nonimmigrant categories and tips for identifying a successful case, as well as recent trends in the USCIS adjudications of L-1 petitions.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss AC21, including H1B and green card portability in this teleconference. Topics discussed also include more recent changes, such as the January 2017 regulation, including grace periods for H1B holders and the Supplement J for certain I-485 applications.

The focus of this teleconference is recent trends in requests for evidence (RFEs) for H1B petitions after cap season. Attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm discuss issues related to the computer programmer job classification, CPT & OPT, right to control, specialty occupation, etc, and provide tips for preparing a strong RFE response.

Workplace enforcement trends under the new Administration, as well as review strategies and tips for avoiding violations, proper internal auditing, and other best practices are the topics Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss in this June 2017 teleconference.

When it comes to immigration policy, the Trump Administration clearly views compliance and investigations as two top priorities. Any business that employs foreign national workers now, more than ever, must ensure that it is taking proactive steps to remain in compliance and not run afoul of the various requirements imposed on employers. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When it comes to immigration policy, the Trump Administration clearly views compliance and investigations as two top priorities. Any business that employs foreign national workers now, more than ever, must ensure that it is taking proactive steps to remain in compliance and not run afoul of the various requirements imposed on employers. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When it comes to immigration policy, the Trump Administration clearly views compliance and investigations as two top priorities. Any business that employs foreign national workers now, more than ever, must ensure that it is taking proactive steps to remain in compliance and not run afoul of the various requirements imposed on employers. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

In this teleconference, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the effects of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies on visa adjudications overseas and processing at the ports of entry. They explore the latest trends at the Department of State and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and their impact on visa applicants and travelers, as well as strategies to help avoid or mitigate potential problems.

Just as this year's H1B cap season began, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unexpectedly released a policy memorandum that calls into question whether the position of computer programmer qualifies as a specialty occupation for H1B purposes. The memo generated tremendous anxiety and confusion among stakeholders. To that end, the Murthy Law Firm provides this special teleconference, where attorneys discuss the meaning of the memo, and the steps H1B employers may be able to take to improve their chances of getting these H1B petitions approved.

In his first week in Office, President Trump signed several Executive Orders regarding immigration and more changes appear to be on the horizon. In this teleconference, Sheela Murthy is joined by other Murthy Law Firm attorneys, as they discuss changes already implemented and those that may occur based on Executive Orders.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss matters related to various types of employment authorization for students in F-1 status, including CPT and OPT (both the initial 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM extension), placement of F-1 student workers at third-party sites, employer obligations, and more. Common issues related to transitioning from F-1 to H1B are also discussed.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the FY2018 H1B cap season in this February 2017 teleconference. Included topics are issues related to transitioning from F-1 to H1B, USCIS quota and fee requirements, and matters important to IT companies with workers at third-party sites.

The inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, marks the beginning of an uncertain time in U.S. immigration law. In the absence of specific proposals from the transition team, many anxiously wonder what U.S. immigration law will look like under the new administration. In this first teleconference of 2017, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss some possible changes, and related timelines, that could impact U.S. employers.

This teleconference focuses on the 24-month STEM OPT extension rule that went into effect May 10, 2016. Attorneys at Murthy Law Firm provide a general overview of the STEM OPT rule, discuss various employer obligations and requirements, and provide practical advice on developing a company-wide training policy and completing an I-983 training plan for individual student trainees.